Fence-post.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

R. 13. BEN NIETT.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

- Ilnventor mlmW hBe UveZ.

MW m mm PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904. i

R. B. BENNETT.

FENCE POST.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

t O t n e W H I 11mg.

witnesses S 2 e n r O I I H UNiTen STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT Trice.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 773,706, dated November1, 1904; Application filed August 10, 1904. Serial No. 220.290. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUSSELL B. BENNETT, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Vvesterville, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts,of which the following is a specification.

This invention belongs to the type of posts which are indestructible andcomprise a body formed of cement or like material and a core or fillerof metal for strengthening the post and maintaining it in serviceablecondition even though the body portion should become broken or cracked.

The purpose of the invention is to devise a post of the characteraforesaid which may be used in the construction of fences or'in thestringing of telephone or telegraph wires or wherever a pole or supportof kindred nature may be required. 7

In accordance with this invention the core or stiffener comprises amember and a plurality of ties strung upon said member, the parts beingwholly embedded in the material comprising the body of the post.-

The invention further contemplates a post of the character describedhaving ofistanding lugs to form a support for the runner elements offencing, such as rails or longitudinal wires; also in tie-wires moldedinto the post and extended obliquely therethrough, whereby the oppositeend portions of a tiewire lie in different planes andare adapted to beengaged with proximal runner-wires.

The invention also contemplates, in combination with the post, linksembedded therein and having their end portions projected beyond oppositesides of the post to receive binder-wires employed for attaching thefencewires to the posts, said links being preferably disposed in anoblique direction to receive opposite portions of a binder in differentplanes.

A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a core ofskeleton formation, the same comprising a plurality of spaced elements,such as wires or rods, and ties for connecting said members to'hold themin determinate relation.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowl.

edge of the details of construction of the means for effecting theresult reference is to be had to the following description and ac afence-post embodying the invention, a por-' tion being broken away toshow the relation of the core and ties and illustrating a series offence-wires and the manner of connecting them to the post. Fig. 8 is arear view of a fence-post constructed in accordance with this invention,showing the end portions of the tie-wires extended. Fig. 4 is a view insection of a modified form of fence-post. Fig. 5 is a sectional view ofa further modification, showing the core comprising a central supportcomposed of sections and showing the upper end portions of the coreelements extended to serve as securing means for barbed or other wiresapplied to the upper portion of the post. Fig. 6 is a front view of afencepost, showing differently-constructed core and opening near theupper end for the reception of a pipe or rod. Fig. 7 is a transversesection of the post on the line a a of Fig. 4, showing the parts on alarger scale. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 0 0 of Fig. 4,showing the end portions of the tie wrapped about a fence-wire. Fig. 9is an enlarged section on the line 6 b of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a detailview of a fragmentary portion of a fence post, showing oppositelydisposed L-shaped lugs. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a plate forming a tiefor the core elements and having a plurality of openings. Fig. 12 is aplan view of a modified form of tie or connector. Fig. 13 is a sectionaldetail view of a modified form of post.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The post may be of any size or construcl tion, dependent upon itsparticular use and location. As illustrated, the post is of trapezoidalform in cross-section, the longer side i of the figure constituting theface. This form is preferred, as the greatest length of the post incross-section is in line with the fence and best adapted to withstandthe strain. It is also preferred to have the post slightly taperedthroughout its length, although this is not essential. The foot of thepost is provided with oppositely-disposed lugs 1, which sustain the postand prevent its withdrawal or upheaval by reason of the earth tampedupon said lugs. In some forms of the post lugs 2 are projected therefromat intervals in its length to form supports for the fence-rails or otherelements. These lugs, as shown in Fig. 1, are of tapering form and. aresquared upon their upper faces to form seats for the fence-rails 3. Asshown in Fig. 10, the lugs 1 are of L form and are oppositely disposed,so as to receive a fence'rail or a wooden strip 3 when placed inposition and prevent both from vertical and lateral displacement.Openings 5 are formed in the members of the lugs 4: to receive nails orlike fastenings for securing the rail againstlongitudinal movement afterbeing placed in position. A series of grooves 6 are formed at intervalsin the rear side of the post and constitute seats to receive thefence-wires and prevent their vertical displacement when properlypositioned and secured.

The core may consist of a single element 7, as shown in Fig. 2, or aplurality of elements or members bound together, as indicated in Figs.4., 5, and 6. The core may be formed of wire or consist of a rod or bar.A series of plates 8 are strung upon the core, and in the event of anumber of elements being embodied in the formation of a core said platesserve as ties for uniting the same at intervals, thereby resulting inthe provision of a substantial structure. When the core consists of asingle element or member, as indicated in Fig. 2, the plates 8 serve tofixits position and to materially strengthen the post as a structure. Inthe preferred construction a plurality of elements or members areutilized in the formation of the core. These members are passed throughopenings 9 in the plates 8 and may occupy any determinate position. Theplates may be of a uniform size, as indicated in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, ordifferentsized plates may be employed, as indicated in Fig. 6. in thelatter instance intermediate core elements or members are cut to admitof the formation of an opening 10 in the post at any (,leterminate pointfor the reception of a rod, bar, or pipe. It is to be understood thatany number of openings 10 may be provided, according to the number ofrods or pipes to be supported longitudinally in the posts.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the core elements or 1 members are intertwiste dor otherwise connected near their upper ends and are extended througnthe post, as indicated at 11 and 12. The side extensions 11 admit ofconnecting a barbed or other fence-Wire to the side of the post near itsupper end. The vertical extensions 12 provide convenient means forsecuring a barbed or other fence-wire to the top of the post. Instead ofhaving the eX- tensions form integral parts of the core elements theymay be short lengths of wire molded in the upper portion of the posts,as indicated at 13 in Fig. 4, the lower ends of the wires 13 being bentor otherwise formed so as to obtain firm anchorage within the post.

The preferred means for connecting the fence-Wires 1 1 to the postsconsists of short binding-wires 15, which are embedded in the postsduring the process of manufacture. The binding-wires 15 are preferablyarranged in an oblique direction, the inclination being such as to admitof opposite end portions of a binder engaging with adjacent or proximalfence-wires, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. The topmost and thelowest binding-wires 15 are disposed at a slight inclination to admit oftheir opposite end portions being wrapped about the same fence-wire, asindi cated most clearly in Fig. 2. The bindingwires 15 are located aboutcentral of the post, and their end portions project beyond oppositeedges. These binding-wires may be utilized during the process of moldingthe posts to serve as supports for the core and prevent its sinking orsettling during the setting process of the cement or other plasticcomposition. In some instances links 16 are molded into the posts andtheir members cross so as to embrace the core members, as indicated mostclearly in Figs. 9 and 4E. The end portions of the links project beyondopposite sides of the post to receive binding-Wires separate andindependent of the post when employed for attaching fence wires, rails,or the like to the posts. as indicated near the bottom of Fig. 1.

Within the purview of the invention the elements comprising a core maybe united by any means other than plates 8. As shownin Fig. 12, a metaltrip or blank is bent into rectangular formation and is provided at thecorners with eyes 17, through which the core elements are passed. Thisform of tie is designed to be used in substantially the same manner asthe plates 8.

Fig. 13 indicates a fragmentary portion of a post embodying theinvention, the core consisting of a coil 18 of wire, the volutes beingspaced apart and receiving the cement or plastic composition betweenthem, so as to insure the formation of a substantial structure.

Fig. 1 illustrates one manner of connecting a fence-wire 1 k to thepost, the binding-Wire 19 being bent to embrace opposite sides and therear of the post and having portions fitted in adjacent grooves, thebinder in side elevation being of V form. Fig. 1 also shows fencerails 3attached to the post by means of a clamp 20 and a binder 21. The clamp20 is adapted to embrace three sides of the post and to have its closedend enter a groove 6. The'fence-rail shown near the bottom of Fig. l isattached thereto by means of the binderwire 21, which has an arrangementsomewhat similar to the bii'ider-wire 19, with the exception that itsside portions extend through opposite ends of the link 16.

In constructing a post in accordance with this invention the bodyportion is formed of cement or other plastic composition which may bereadily worked and molded, so as to completely fill all the spacebetween the component parts of the core and which is selfs'etting and isnot affected by dampness or the elements. The core is formed as anarticle and is subsequently placed in a mold or form into which thecement or post-forming mold is filled and tamped and troweled or struck,so as to present a smooth side.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the core comprises acentrally-disposed member 22, which is composed of a series of sections,which sections being passed through openings of certain plates andhaving their extremities abutted against the certain other plates, thissectional core element serves to place the post longitudinally. While itis preferred to have the core occupy a central position, this is notessential within the scope of the invention, as the core may be arrangedto one side of the center nearer any one face of the post.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Apost comprising a body portion of plastic material, and a metallic coreembedded in said material and composed of a series of members, the endportions of which are intertwisted and extended beyond the post to serveas connecting means for a fence-wire, substantially as specified.

2. A post having its body portion composed of plastic material, a coreembedded in the post, and a series of binding-wires embedded in the postand having a transverse oblique arrangement and their end portionsprojected from opposite sides thereof at different points, and adaptedto be engaged with adjacent fencewircs, substantially as set forth.

3. A fence-post comprising a body of plastic material, a metallic corecomposed of longitudinal members transversely spaced and securedtogether and embedded in the plastic material, and tie wires passedobliquely through the post and between the core members and having theirend portions extended beyond opposite sides of the post at differentpoints, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A concrete post with a metallic core composed of longitudinal memberstransversely secured in relative position by perforated coreplatesbefore being embedded in the plastic material and embedded in thecentral portion thereof, the interspaces being completely filled withthe plastic material, with lugs at the bottom of the post on the sidesadjacent to the face, with perforated horizontal lugs across one side ofthe post having upward or downward projecting Ls substantially asdescribed.

5. A concrete post of a trapezoidal section with a metallic core composed of members running longitudinally and transversely secured inrelative position by perforated core-plates, the members being passedthrough said plates before being embedded in plastic material, andshaped closely against the lower core-plate and twisted against theupper core plate, the middle member being in sections passing throughthe center perforations of certain plates and fitting closely againstthe other coreplates, not perforated at the center, and the completedcore embedded in the post, the interspaces being completely filled withthe plastic material, with the free upper ends passing out the sides orthe top of the post to receive the top fence-wire or barbed wires.

6. A concrete post with a metallic core composed of a number oflongitudinal members transversely secured together by perforatedcore-plates before being embedded in the plastic material and embeddedin the central portion of the post, the interspaces being completelyfilled by the plastic material, with a perforation near the top of thepost between core-plates and sections of the members for the purposespecified.

A concrete post of a general trapezoidal section with a metallic corecomposed of a single longitudinal member passed through the centerperforations of transverse perforated core-plates before being embeddedin the plastic material, and wholly embedded in the post with theperforations and the spaces between the core-plates being completelyfilled with plastic material.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSELL B. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

H. S. BENNETT, R. B. ADAMs.

IIC

